Product Description

Psychologist Natalie Marsh is a pro at keeping secrets. She not only guards her clients’ confidences but also expertly hides her own pain after being disinherited by her dying mother. As fresh personal challenges begin heaping on top of professional ones, Natalie’s best friend, Camille, confides that she thinks someone is stalking her. Natalie suspects that stress, not a stalker, is shadowing Camille—but Camille’s fear only continues to grow when the widow of a local businessman starts whispering that her husband was murdered and a new client of Natalie’s seems to be concealing something much more frightening than her inability to stand up for herself. Soon a shattering crime proves the danger is real. But when everyone has something at stake, is there anyone Natalie can trust? Or will she fall victim to a killer who will do anything to keep secrets hidden?

Product Details

Published

Covenant Communications 2016

Size

6 x 9

Pages

272

ISBN

9781524401245

About the Author

STEPHANIE BLACK has loved books since she was old enough to grab the pages, and has enjoyed creating make-believe adventures since she and her sisters were inventing long Barbie games filled with intrigue and danger or running around pretending to be detectives. She is a three-time Whitney Award winner for Best Mystery/Suspense, most recently for Cold as Ice (2010).
Stephanie was born in Utah and has lived in various places, including Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, and Limerick, Ireland. She currently lives in northern California and enjoys spending time with her husband Brian and their five children. She is a fan of chocolate, cheesecake, and her husband’s homemade bread.

Reviews

Average rating:

(based upon 10 reviews)

I love ❤️ it so much!By Scotlyn Moncur, Submitted on 2017-11-10

Sooo hard to put down!!!

a great suspenseful readBy Mara, Submitted on 2017-10-11

Natalie Marsh is a psychologist whose life is about to get completely turned upside down and she's not going to know who to trust. I'm not saying anything else about that because I don't want to accidentally spoil it for anyone. There are a lot of twists and turns in the story.
There are quite a few characters in this book, and as you read you find out their lives are intertwined more than you originally thought they were. I liked Natalie's character--she's easy to like. I didn't like her sister, Andrea, at all. A couple of characters surprised me and at one point I wondered if everyone but Natalie was crazy. I was completely shocked to out who did it.
Another great suspense/thriller from Stephanie Black. I didn't want to put it down.

Not A WordBy LAWonder10, Submitted on 2017-02-23

Natalie has worked hard to overcome her own dysfunctional home-life, paid for her own University degree, one that she could possibly aid her mother with. Instead, her mother became angry and disinherited her. Her father had along ago left them and both parents died within a short time of each other. her hideous sister-who inherited it all - is constantly flaunting her wealth and now tragedy has visited her best friend. Can anything else go wrong? Yes!
The next door neighbor she had growing up - the only one who was kind to her -, a client and a recent male friend all "flipped out"! Was she to be the next victim? Did the police feel she was a suspect? After dedicating herself to help others and not to be bitter, was there anyone she could trust?
Stephanie Black has created another "spine tingling" thriller! With all of the scenarios, suspects, and circumstances, the reader will be uncertain until the very end of "who did it?" and "What really happened?".
The Cover and Title are eye-catching and attractive, but not necessarily the best "fit" to depict the story. However, the characters were created in a way which caused them to seem real. The background scenes were described in a way the reader easily visualized them.
^This book was sent as a gift but in no way determined the honest review I have given.
I feel this deserves a Four and a Half Stars rating.

Riviting and CreepyBy Katie, Submitted on 2016-11-12

Creeeeepy! This book is one of those that you don't want to read late at night when you're home alone because you will totally scare yourself silly. I love a book that's full of suspense and keeps me on my toes, trying to guess the motives and who the suspects really are.

There are quite a few characters in this book and it took me a little while to figure out who was who and their relationships to each other, but once I did (well, even before that), I was completely hooked. I couldn't read the book fast enough to find out how it would all end.

There are some great characters here and the book moves back and forth between a few different points of view, which really enhances the story, as we get to watch the story unfold from more than one perspective. This is a great device in this suspenseful mysteries because I seriously couldn't unravel things on my own, but found myself desperately trying to piece things together a snippet at a time, as the plot progressed. I loved seeing things through the eyes of so many and loved the way they were all bound together in some way. I still kind of have the chills.

Content: some violence (nothing too graphic).

*I received a copy from the publisher. I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are my own.*

A suspense that builds and builds to an intense conclusion.By Tressa, Submitted on 2016-11-11

NOT A WORD was an intense suspense that continued to build through the climatic end. There were some quirky characters, a light romance, and plenty of crazy drama to add some character to the story. This is one story that is sure to entertain suspense readers from beginning to end!

It took me a couple chapters in before I felt I had all the characters straightened out, but then once I did, I followed the story easily. There are definitely some seriously quirky and crazy characters in this story. It was a little mind-boggling at times. I really liked Natalie and Gideon. They were unique, consistent, and worked well together. I suspected the villain at a certain high society event, but I wasn't quite sure what all the details were or who else might be involved. It really was quite heartbreaking when everything is unveiled and then reading what happens to Natalie, which was quite terrible. I loved the ending, as it just felt spot on for these characters and story!

In the end, was it what I wished for? I enjoyed this story the further I got in the book and the more the underlying tension built. And that ending was intense and then ended perfectly sweet, which I loved. This was the first book I've read from this author, but definitely won't be my last.

Content: Some violence, but clean for the genre.
Source: Received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.

Not A Word is addicting and is hard to put down.By S. Staley, Submitted on 2016-11-10

Author Stephanie Black has a new mystery/suspense novel out called, Not A Word. This book grabs you from the first page and the angst and suspense don't let up throughout the book. Stephanie knows how to create the tension and arouse suspicion on every single character. I'm always impressed at how she writes a mystery so detailed and interwoven that you know it must have taken many hours to map it out.

Main character Natalie Marsh is one I liked because she was so well balanced. Natalie isn't all super woman nor quivering maiden in distress; she is strong and confident at times, but also shows normal human weakness and is vulnerable. The reader is very able to relate to her and how she handles most things. This character has had a hard life, but still manages to be well rounded and likable. Some of the other characters are over the top strange and campy, but they were fun to read about; for example wealthy businessman Bob Chapman, Lacey's husband Jonas, Natalie's sister Andrea, and even Camille, Natalie's best friend.

Not A Word is addicting and is hard to put down. Don't rely on the "Just one more chapter" and think you'll be able to go to bed. I was kept fully engrossed in the story trying to piece everything together. I know that other readers will find this to be true with them too. I liked this mystery/ suspense, the well-written plot and the variety of quirky characters that will keep you reading into the wee hours of the night.

Suspenseful!By Heidi G., Submitted on 2016-11-09

This is the first Stephanie Black book that I've read so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. The depth and variety of characters and the intricacy of the story line made for an engrossing read. Various characters all had their own issues and struggles such as Camille with a supposed stalker, Lacey who is fascinated by Camille, but has turned into a stalker. Natalie who is struggling to deal with being left out of her mother's will, and discovers that things aren't entirely the way they should be. Felicity who believes her husband was murdered by Camille (who she doesn't know) and her stepson, Gideon, who is seriously worried about her and these strange ideas she's developed in her grief. The tension continues to intensify when it turns out that danger is stalking a couple of the characters and from a rather unexpected source. The settings are great, from Natalie's office, to Camille's house, to the lake that Camille and Natalie like to visit. The twists and turns make the book very suspenseful, especially as it builds toward the conclusion. A great read for romantic suspense fans. There is some romance, but it definitely takes a back seat to the suspense.

Love this great suspenseful book!By Cathy J, Submitted on 2016-11-08

Wow, what a fitting time of year to have read this one! I love that I read it around Halloween and there was plenty of suspense and wondering who the killer was in this one to keep me creeped out! I loved that there's a bit of love story in this one, the suspenseful plot really needed that bit of break for me.

I love that in this book you see things from multiple angles. You see what's up with Natalie, Lacey and Gideon pretty much throughout the book. It made the whole plot more interesting to see things from the perspective of these three, yet not really have any idea who the killer was. It was really fun that there were a whole slew of suspects but the killer was someone that I never would have expected. I was so surprised when I read the parts about who it was!

You start off seeing Lacey's point of view. It was really kind of hard to know just what was going on from her point of view, because she doesn't necessarily seem quite sane, especially when dealing with her husband Jonas who seems to be trying to control her. It was interesting to me to see just how she figured in the plot and how she fit into what really had happened.

Natalie ends up being Lacey's psychologist, those parts were kind of fun, because Lacey's half convinced that she's crazy and trying to hide that fact from Natalie. Natalie's pretty much the main character. She's trying to do her best with the life she's been given. Her mother apparently didn't care for her and left her whole fortune to her sister Andrea, who loves to flaunt that fact to Natalie every chance she gets. I loved how down to earth Natalie was, she was a great friend and all around great person.

This is a great book that I didn't want to put down until I had finished every last word!

Never A Dull Moment!By Aimee Brown, Submitted on 2016-11-07

If mystery/suspense is a genre you love, you really need to read this book. Stephanie Black is so good at weaving a mystery where I am constantly trying to guess who and why. Every chapter has me looking at people and events differently, suspecting everyone, and I love that.

There were quite a lot of characters in this book. It took me a good third of the book to feel like I had a good grasp on each character and who they were but it did happen and by the end of the book I felt like I knew each person and I could give a detailed description to the police. Ha!

I loved the pacing of this book that had me interested and involved in the plot from the beginning. There was never a dull moment. The ending was gangbuster and had my heart pounding. I was reading so fast I had to stop myself and go back to read more slowly so I didn't miss something! Awesome, right?

Content: Some violence but otherwise clean.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A favorable review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

LOVED IT!By Shauna Wheelwright, Submitted on 2016-11-07

If you love thrillers like I do then this book is definitely for you!
I loved how all of the characters were intermingled with each other-- That really makes for some great reading!
This book gives you an inside look at psychology, mental illness, and stalking --very intriguing!
This book was SO GOOD!!!
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. IT!